The BJD on Monday alleged that the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre has completely failed to provide social security to Dalits across the country.
“Violence against Dalits in the BJP-ruled States is increasing by the day. While national party president Amit Shah is dining at Dalits’ houses to get votes in Odisha, Dalits in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, where BJP is in power, are being killed and their houses being burnt frequently,” alleged BJD SC Cell convenor and State Planning Board Vice-Chairman Bishnu Charan Das at a Press meet here.
“As many as 13 Dalits were killed and their houses burnt in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. A 17-year-old Piyush Paramar, was killed for cycling on the village road in Gujarat, the home State of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In July 2016, four Dalit youths were brutally attacked for conducting cattle hide trade in Unna in Gujarat. A Dalit youtht, Kunal Meheria, was stabbed for keeping mustache and another youth, Jay Salanki, was beaten to death for watching Garba dance organised by upper caste people,” said Das.
Das said the BJD would hold a mass dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan here on October 13 in protest against the attacks on Dalits. His party intensify stir if such acts continue in coming days, he said.
Among others, party State secretary Bijya Nayak, ST cell State general secretary Ashok Kumar Mallick, lawyer Nirnjan Sethi and vice-president Krushna Chandra Sethi were present.